We Don’t Just Inspect the Airfield
Most people think airport operations is all about the airfield. Runways. Taxiways. Wildlife. Snow. Big flashing lights. The fun stuff. And they’re not wrong. That’s a huge part of what we do.
But what a lot of people don’t realize is that we inspect the terminal too.
What’s an AVSEC Inspection?
Every night, I walk through the terminal as part of what’s called an AVSEC inspection. That stands for Aviation Security. It’s not just a routine. It’s a critical part of keeping our airport secure and safe after hours.
I check every concourse. A, B, and C. I walk the food court. Baggage claim. Ticketing. If there’s a hallway or a gate or a dark corner past security, I’m walking it.
Why? Because TSA doesn’t stay overnight. At CMH, we don’t have 24-hour TSA screening. Once the last flight takes off and the checkpoint shuts down, it’s our job to make sure nobody is hanging out where they shouldn’t be.
No One Stays Past Security
If someone is past security after TSA has left, that’s a security breach. They have to be fully rechecked when they return the next morning. No exceptions. We don’t allow people to sleep in the gate area overnight. This isn’t a hotel.
We’ve got security guards who do the first sweep, but we’re the second set of eyes. We double check. It’s one of those jobs where you don’t expect to find something, but you’re always ready if you do.
What I Look For
It’s not just about people. I’m also looking for problems. Things that could cause injuries, delays, complaints, or damage to the airport.
Spills on the floor. Trash that someone didn’t throw away. Chairs flipped over. Tables broken. Tiles loose. Bags left behind. Anything that looks off.
If I can fix it, I do. If not, I call it in to maintenance or custodial. That’s part of the job.
One night, I walked past a patch of carpet near a gate that had been bothering me for weeks. The squares were pushed together too tight and had formed this weird Mohawk ridge that stuck out every time I walked by. One night, I finally just got down on the floor and pulled them apart with my hands. They weren’t glued down or anything. They’ve been fine ever since. Sometimes you just have to stop walking and fix the thing.
The Gross Stuff
Not every night is clean. I’ve found throw up. One night I found a full pile of poop on the floor. You never know what you’re walking into. That’s why I always have to keep my head on a swivel. Not just for safety. For sanitation.
Security Breaches Are a Big Deal
If I see a bag left behind, that is not something I ignore. I immediately call our communications center and they send a police officer. Sometimes they bring a bomb sniffing dog. They’ll try to track down the owner, and if they can’t, they open it. It is not a small thing.
Security doors are the same way. I check them to make sure they’re all closed. If one is propped open or left unlocked, I call it in. Comm center sends someone out. They check who opened it last. They review camera footage. And if we can’t figure it out, we shut the entire concourse down and make everyone re-clear through TSA. That is a very big deal. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, everything stops.
What I Carry and How Long It Takes
I don’t bring much. Just me and the ops phone. That’s it.
The inspection usually takes about 35 minutes. Sometimes more, depending on what I find. It’s nearly two miles of walking. And I do it alone, usually in the middle of the night. But it’s important work. Even if nobody sees it.
Every AVSEC inspection gets logged in our operations log. It’s not just a walk. It’s documentation. It’s accountability. It’s keeping the building safe while the rest of the world is asleep.
Why It All Matters
The terminal is the first and last part of the airport that most passengers experience. If something is broken or dirty or out of place, they notice. If we don’t catch it, they might trip over it, complain about it, or post about it.
This work is part of the bigger picture. It’s pride in our airport. It’s making sure people have a safe and smooth experience from the moment they walk in to the moment they leave.
Leadership doesn’t always look like a meeting or a title or a big event. Sometimes it looks like walking Concourse B at 1 AM with sore feet and a cup of coffee. Sometimes it’s about fixing the carpet when nobody else will.
That’s leadership too.
That’s the job.
See you in the concourse.
Why I’m doing this
Partly because people keep asking me, “What do you do?” and I want to be able to point to something that actually shows it.
But mostly?
Because I don’t want to forget what I’m learning.
This job is crazy. It’s complicated. It’s full of nuance. You can work here for twenty years and still not know everything. And I don’t want the lessons to slip past me just because I didn’t take five minutes to write them down.
So this is my version of capturing it.
One post at a time. One story at a time. One lesson at a time.
If you’ve ever wondered what happens behind the jet bridge, out past the taxiway lights, or behind those giant “AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY” doors… you’re in the right place.
Let’s get to work.